"Many people have wanted to see what you
see, but did not see it."- Luke 10:24

With my dying breath as a
game designer, I thought I'd unleash my unique brand of creativity on a
concept that you'll never see anywhere else. It's an experience that billions
of people have prayed for, but which no ordinary artist has the wherewithal to
deliver. A territory that many would have liked to explore, but which can only
be navigated by one who has freedom and lacks fear. You've read the book, you've
seen the film, and you've heard the music. Now LIVE THE LIFE, and leave no
stone unturned as you finally understand that which has been misunderstood by
many...

The Gospel According To YouChances are you've
already made up your mind about this project. You either think I'm a
Bible-bashing preacher or a trouble-causing blasphemer. As with all bold
assumptions, neither one holds much weight. The You Testament
takes too many liberties with the text to be considered "preaching", and yet its
message is too sincere to be dismissed as "blasphemy". That leaves us somewhere
in the middle, as you come face to face with spiritual principles and get to
make your own mind up as to what they mean. I've always been fascinated
with the idea of games as a metaphor for the relationship between body and soul,
and this is the most overt exploration of that yet. As your 3D character struggles
to make sense of his existence, you might just come to make sense of your own...

The Last SupperAs revolutionary as this all sounds,
the gameplay itself should feel quite familiar. It's basically a biblical remake
of Hard Time, where you make your way in a society consisting of hundreds
of other fully interactive characters - all presided over by an authoritative
regime. Rather appropriately for my last project, it also doffs its hat to
practically every other game I've ever made! The hand-to-hand combat is lifted
straight from the wrestling games, the scenery is reminiscent of World War
Alpha, and the survival concept has a lot in common with Wrecked (not
to mention the spiritual undertones). You might dismiss this as lazy recycling,
but it's actually a deliberate ploy to show the cohesion in my
work and the divine destination it was tumbling towards. As the credits note,
"No creative endeavour begins or ends in vain"...

Swords And SandalsDespite appearances, Jesus
isn't actually the star of the show. Instead, the game centres on a disciple of
your own creation. However you compose your character, you can be sure they'll
look
different to how they did in any other game! One of the biggest challenges with this
project was creating a
baggy robe-based costume for the average civilian. It ran counter to the tight
style of clothing I had become accustomed to in my wrestling work. Although it's
not perfect, I developed the best system I possibly could without compromising
the animations. It's certainly versatile. Instead of offering you one preset
piece of clothing, this game breaks it down into two parts - an undergarment and
a sash wrapped over it. You can then mix and match these as you wish to produce
any colour scheme. It even applies to headwear, which has separate upper and
lower components for things like turbans. And unique to this game is a cool
little hood for that
Obi Wan Kenobi look! All the while, the Roman authorities stand out in the red and gold uniforms they sported in World War Alpha...

Eye To EyeIn addition to the biblical
costumes, another visual innovation for this game is that the characters now
have REAL moving eyes! It was the first (and only) detail to be released early
in the game's production and has gone on to be an effective part of the
experience. Not only does it allow characters to look at each other eye to eye,
but it also allows them to express much more emotion while doing so. The eyes
squint in addition to moving, which - together with the eyebrows - helps to
communicate anger and sadness. It's even possible for the eyes to close
completely, which is good for both temporary winces of pain and being
unconscious on the floor. If nothing else, the simple act of blinking makes them
feel more human. And above all else, these eyes can of course be of any colour -
from the darkest black to the palest blue - which ensures that even the same
face can be made to appear different. The only downside is that the eyes tend to
look quite similar on a structural level. They have to be in the same place on
every skull, so it's no longer possible to have some of the unique looks I
created with images...

Your Own Personal JesusOne of the most interesting
things about this game is that the entire cast can be randomized to look fresh.
I felt it was important to include a stereotypical Jesus (whom you see in most
of these shots) so that people could at least relate to what was going on. If
you ever get bored of him, however, you can edit him by hand or ask the computer
to generate an entirely random one! This throws up the rather controversial
prospect of a Jesus of any race or gender. Although not historically accurate,
it's great for challenging your preconceptions and makes the teachings more
important than the man. The same applies for all the other key players - so John
The Baptist and your fellow disciples can change each time too. It's even
possible to discover that the Virgin Mary is actually a single father?!

God's Own CountryThe look of the scenery has
also evolved to match the improved characterization. The game breaks ancient
Palestine down into a staggering 32 separate locations. To put that into
perspective, Wrecked's island consisted of 5 and Hard Time's
prison had 11. We're talking about extremely sophisticated locations too - which
range from sprawling outdoor terrain to indoor architecture (and some that
combine both). As ever, it's necessary to clear one scene and reload another
every time you move on. A necessary evil I'm afraid. However, as in Wrecked,
the process is made less painful thanks to a map that charts
your journey while you're waiting! Appropriate segments of this map also pop up
during the game as you approach an exit path, which - along with clear
signposting - helps to give you a sense of direction...

The Tree Of KnowledgeThe terrain should look and
feel familiar to players of World War Alpha. I've taken the same basic
premise and fleshed it out with all manner of additional scenery. Most notably,
the most diverse and realistic looking foliage yet - which ranges from big trees
to tiny plants. It's achieved by displaying perfect 2D sprites instead of
half-baked 3D models. The only problem is that 2D sprites don't look quite so
"perfect" up close, but it's worth it to see some nice scenery in the distance
(which is where it'll be more often than not). As ever, the game also brings
additional atmosphere to the landscape with distinct times of day that come to
pass in real time! The lighting slowly shifts from day to night and back again
to give you a sense of living in a real environment...

The Eye In The Sky
You can enjoy the view with a revamped manual camera that's controlled by the
mouse. Once you get used to it, it's quicker and more intuitive than stabbing at
keys. Trust me, you'll be reaching for it when the cameraman gets tied up from
time to time! The camera tracks your character from behind by default, but the
scenes are so chaotic that it's not always ideal. The action is also
accompanied by the most advanced music system yet. Instead of banging you over
the head with one main theme, this time I composed 4 distinct ones and got the
game to the fade them in and out at random. They're even provided as high
quality MP3's instead of bastardized WAV files. That means it's finally possible
to have background music in one my games without getting a headache! Although
there is an option to break the volume down to zero if you disagree...

The Greatest Story Ever ToldThe game essentially involves
following Jesus around these various locations and enjoying the most
sophisticated storytelling mechanism my work has ever produced. Most games tell
a story with preset cut-scenes of some description, but here the actual game
engine is used throughout. Jesus and his co-stars have a set place to be at a
set time, and the game will conspire to put them there waiting for you to make
an appearance. They will then act out a scene using the same input and
animations that are available to you. That's both a blessing and a curse,
because it opens up the possibility of the story being told BADLY! But it's
worth it to have the sense that everything is real and anything can happen. In
addition to a main storyline that unfolds chronologically, there are also
hundreds of sub-plots that are linked to your actions. If Jesus sees you doing
something or acting a certain way, he will give you an impromptu sermon about
that - whether it's the folly of being violent or the benefits of a vegetarian
diet. Likewise, there are conversations to be had between you and the other
civilians - many of which are open-ended as in Hard Time and can go
either way. A prime example is the issue of "denying" Jesus once he becomes
unpopular. You actually have a choice in this game (although you WILL
understand why Peter did what he did!)...

The Kingdom Of God Is Within YouA project about Jesus is
controversial in itself, but one of the game's biggest revelations is that it
attributes his powers to the Eastern art of meditation. We often think of Jesus
in Western terms, but the Eastern influence is plain to see for those that can
relate to what he's saying. He mysteriously disappears between the ages of 14
and 28, before returning with some radical ideas. Some scholars place him in India during these formative years. At the
very least, it seems he was exposed to a pacifist Jewish sect which preserved
the original teachings of Moses. Far from being "controversial", this is
actually the key that unites ALL religions and unlocks their hidden meanings.
The simple premise of closing one's two eyes to the outside world and opening
one's "third eye" to an inner world is key to mastering the human experience.
When one looks within, they are confronted with their psychological make-up and
can set about purifying it by removing negative character traits. This perfected
being then takes control of life instead of being at its mercy. Having
sidestepped the illusion of existence, you find yourself able to
"manipulate" it...

Lifting Up The SerpentAs far as the game is
concerned, meditation is a means of elevating yourself above the average man and
living a more meaningful existence. Once Jesus has initiated you, you can enter
a meditative state at any time by holding the Space Bar. You're then treated to
a sub-game where you direct spiritual energy throughout your body like a snake!
By directing it into certain chambers (chakras), you can reap the benefits of up
to 18 different powers that Jesus may have taught you. I won't spoil the
surprise by revealing them all, but they're essentially legitimate "cheat codes"
that you can invoke at will to make your life easier - such as conjuring items
out of thin air, healing your wounds, becoming invisible, or being able to fly.
Although they're exaggerated for the sake of entertainment, you'd be surprised
how closely linked they are to the narrative. There are also some cool riffs on
the notion of it all being a "game" - such as revealing the polygons behind the
graphics you see! You essentially come to understand the real nature of things -
much to the bewilderment of those that don't...

The Hand Of GodIn addition to invoking powers
from a seated position, you can also save them to your hand for a short time and
use them while out and about. There's a whole button dedicated to that, which
causes you to reach out with your left hand - even when you have no such powers!
If you do, however, you should notice that the power has taken on a whole other
meaning - effectively doubling the number of miracles to 36. For instance,
manifesting an item while seated puts it into your hands and gives you a choice
- whereas the standing version fires items out of your hand like missiles! Other
powers are flipped on their head, such as being empowered to heal others instead
of yourself. Whenever you reach out, your hand automatically aims directly at
the nearest candidate and allows you to manipulate them in some way. Doing so
may attract unwanted attention though - especially from the authorities who take
a dim view of sorcery...

Mind, Body & SoulThe ability to work miracles is
reserved for the virtuous. As in Wrecked and Hard Time, you're
charged with the responsibility of keeping your character alive by making sure
their physical health and mental health is under control. Losing all of your
bodily health risks death, whereas losing your mind results in a nervous
breakdown - which can be worse than death! In that state, you literally lose
control of your character for a short time and have to sit back while he wages
war on others and ruins your reputation. This game completes the holy trinity by
giving you a "soul" to worry about too. A spiritual meter fluctuates alongside
your mind and body, increasing with every virtuous act and plummeting into minus
figures when you indulge a life of sin. It's up to you, but you need positive
energy to access the various powers - so a sinful man is doomed to be "normal"
until he works off his bad karma. That is, unless he's so despicably evil that
he can invoke the power of the devil! A satanic character roams the world as
surely as Jesus does, competing for your soul. If you turn to the dark side and
listen to him instead, your spiritual powers can have a sinister edge...

Material PossessionsAs ever, there are dozens of
fully interactive items in the game to help you in your quest. The difference
here is that half of them are edible, as you once again put food to your lips to
consume it as you did in Wrecked. Your health is then boosted
accordingly, which saves you having to recoup energy by sitting around. There
are different kinds though - ranging from fish and meat to fruit and bread. Meat
products are more nourishing, but they come at a spiritual cost because you're
encouraged to adopt a vegetarian diet and fast occasionally. Likewise, liquid
products are there to nourish your mind. You're supposed to drink from pools of
water with the "Pick-Up" command, but handheld trinkets of wine are the sinful
equivalent which have a greater effect! Alcohol leaves you in a drunken stupor
though, so it's not always advisable. Handling material possessions (especially
money) also keeps your happiness afloat, but once again it eats away at your
soul over time. As you may have gathered, the game does a good job of simulating
the spiritual life by making it extremely desirable and yet very difficult to
attain!

Living By The SwordYet another controversy for a
game about religion is that violence actually plays a major part in the
proceedings. Not because you're supposed to indulge in it, but because there are
lessons to be learned by being on the receiving end of it. The system is trimmed
down from anything we've seen in dedicated fighting games, but it's still
possible to throw out the odd kick or punch. Plenty of weapons are also
available to give attacks extra impact. It's once again possible to steal too by
using the "Pick-Up" command near a character that has an item in hand. As you'd
expect, indulging in all of the above is a recipe for disaster because it
amasses more bad karma than anything else - especially when your actions result
in a fatality. On the other hand, being a victim of crime is considered a virtue
and helps to stimulate positive energy. It's a miserable existence though, and
can only be pulled off with spiritual strength...

Love Thy NeighbourAnother reason to refrain from
a life of crime is that you have a unique relationship with every other
character in the game and transgressions won't be forgotten! The more enemies
you clock up, the harder and more violent your life will become. On the other
hand, it's just as easy to develop friendships with the other characters. Using
the "Drop" command near a potential recipient now hands an item to somebody else
instead of dropping it to the floor, which is generally appreciated no matter
what the item may be. Likewise, it's also possible to make friends by simply
responding favourably to any conversations that arise. As in Reach,
friendly parties are also prone to hug each other as a gesture of goodwill! It
has mental and spiritual benefits in this game though, so it's all part of a
positive lifestyle. Fraternizing with the opposite sex may have unexpected
consequences though, because it's possible to impregnate them! After embracing a
woman for too long, you may return to the scene to find that you have a wife and
child to support. Needless to say, this is not exactly the path to spiritual
enlightenment! They prevent you from meditating when they're nearby, and they
snatch any food that you have to hand...

Into The Eagle's NestYour affections won't be
returned by the occupying Roman soldiers who serve as a police presence! Like
the guards in Hard Time, they're the first to react to any bad behaviour
and will try to keep you in check. In addition to preventing crime, they also
like to maintain order by having you sit down at night and not during the day.
They're also likely to be suspicious of any items you're seen carrying, so it's
important to avoid detection if you intend to break the rules. It's not just a
beating you have to fear. As in Hard Time, they can issue a warrant for
your arrest if you're a repeat offender. In these cases, they won't stop hunting
you until they have you at their mercy - and then it's off to Pontius Pilate to
face trial! This nods to the Barabbas story, where you're presented to the
public alongside another criminal and pray that they choose to release you
instead of him. If they don't, you could be on the receiving end of all manner
of punishments - ranging from a stint in prison to having offending limbs cut
off...

They Know Not What They DoOf course, the most horrific
punishment of all is crucifixion - and it's not just reserved for Jesus. Over
the course of the game, you can see all kinds of characters crucified for one
reason or another - people that were once walking among you. You'll feel their
pain if it ever happens to you, because you literally have to hang there in a
static state waiting to die! Stray crosses also exist in the game as items that
you can pick up and carry over your shoulder. A cross might not be high on
your Christmas list, but it's a necessary prop for the story when Jesus has to
carry his own cross to its destination. It's also quite chilling to see other
characters dragging a cross around from time to time. Doing so actually has
spiritual benefits too. Although it's bad for your health and slows you down to
a crawl, taking on such burdens will help to burn off bad karma...

Final
ThoughtThe controversial content of this
game suggests that it'll be seen by more eyes than any other, so it's a shame
that it's not quite the most shining example of my work. Although it's as big
and spectacular as an independent can muster, the concept itself may not hold up
to much scrutiny. At times, the "game" amounts to little more than following
Jesus around and having fun with the odd miracle he teaches you. As in Hard
Time, the penchant for realism means that your existence can sometimes be as
boring and frustrating as life itself! That's not exactly what we've come to expect from
escapist entertainment. But for once, that's not the point. What we have
here is an interactive story - and an important story at that. At this point in
human history, the double threat of cynicism and fanaticism has clouded the way
we view religious figures. The atheist's ego gets a kick out of going against
the grain and delights at rejecting that which others hold dear (blissfully
unaware that their pitiful attempts to appear "intelligent" are born of
ignorance). Meanwhile, the fanatic's insecurity has him clinging to that which he
loves so tightly that he almost kills it - alienating the very people he would
seek to "save". Into the breach steps a man that sees the folly of both parties
and ushers them onto a shared path - the only path that ever existed. The You
Testament gives you spiritual principles as seen through the veil of a
computer program. In this context, you will finally understand words
that may not have made much sense on the page. And upon
understanding, ignorance will cloud your judgment no more. If you happen to have
a bit of fun along the way, that's a bonus. As we always seem to say when
Christmas rolls around, it's the thought that counts...